An Introduction to Your Home's Electrical System
Electricity has become an absolutely essential part of modern life. It is used to power the largest industries, each delivering to the smallest household convenience. In your home, electricity is used to power appliances, furnaces, light fixtures, and many other items. Have you ever wondered how exactly your home's electrical system works?
Components
Your home's electrical system is comprised of many different parts, including incoming power lines or conduits, an electric meter, service panels and subpanels, household wiring, electrical outlets, switches, and the appliances that use this power. These items can be separated into two distinct categories: rough-in components and finish components. Rough-in components are the electrical elements in your home that are installed during the beginning phases of construction, such as wires, cables, and electrical boxes. On the other hand, finish components are the elements that are added to your home's structure towards the end of construction, such as outlets, switches, and light fixtures.
How it Works
Electricity is sent to your house from the utility company through overhead power lines and/or underground conduits. This power is delivered most commonly through three main lines, called three-wire service. This is the type of energy delivery system that most households have. There are two "hot" wires, each delivering 120 volts of elec120 voltstricity and one neutral wire. Most household lights and appliances use 120 volts, only requiring the use of one hot wire. However, larger appliances and electrical devices, such as air conditioners, electric ovens, furnaces, etc., require both hot wires, using 240 volts of electricity. All electrical circuits require the presence of a neutral line.
An electric meter is located ." where the electricity arrives at the house. This device tracks the amount of energy delivered and consumed by the household. From here, the power is channelled to the main service panel, commonly referred to as a "breaker box." The main panel is the central distribution point for the entire building's power supply. To understand how this works, one must understand how an electrical circuit works.
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